Oman airports record 15 per cent passenger growth

28 October 2015

Massive capacity expansion underway

Passenger numbers in Oman’s airports have increased 15 per cent for the year to date in 2015, according to Nagy Abu Zeid, senior manager for strategy & development at Oman Airports Management Company (OAMC).

This coincides with a 27 per cent year-on-year growth in seat capacity between 2014 and 2015. The sultanate expects to receive 10 million passengers in 2015.

Oman is currently developing five airports, in Muscat, Sohar, Salalah, Duqm and Ras al-Hadd.

The structures for the new 12 million passenger a year terminal in Muscat is nearly complete, while the interiors and systems work still remains to be carried out.

A second phase expansion, which would expand the capacity to 24 million passengers a year, is being studied.

“Some people question the second phase growth, but there is huge demand and very fast growth,” says Abu Zeid. “We are not looking into copying Dubai or Abu Dhabi. This is a completely different market, and we don’t want overcapacity with big projects. It is about authentic growth, and creating business and job opportunities.”

OAMC is also looking at developing connected and supply chain industries in land around its airports, and is studying the best way to proceed.

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